DSS operatives beat police officer to death in Osun, family demands justice
…Culprits will not go unpunished — Police
Abimbola Abatta, Osogbo
The family of the deceased police officer allegedly killed by the Department of State Service (DSS) operatives have begged the government not to allow the death to be in vain.
It was gathered that the deceased, Rauf Fawale, who was attached to Dada Estate police station, was allegedly hit on the head with a plank while hanging out with the DSS operatives in Osogbo.
While speaking with the deceased’s father, Rabiu Fawale, he said Rauf was his first son and was killed due to his recent promotion at work.
According to him, the deceased, who was 35 years old, joined the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, about three years ago after he graduated from school.
“I got to know about the incident from my farm settlement. I hurriedly left the farm settlement for Osogbo and went straight to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital where he had been admitted.
“My son was a very humble and easy-going person. He never quarrelled with anybody and he always minded his business. I was told that some DSS officials led by a certain David Olowoporoku attacked and hit him on the head with planks at the birthday party of his boss.
“My son was definitely killed because of the promotion he just received. They killed my son because of promotion. All I want from the government is to help me get justice so that my son will not die in vain.”
Also speaking, the wife of the deceased, Balikis Fawale, said the deceased had three children and the youngest is a month old.
While explaining the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband, she said her husband left home for work on that fateful Thursday morning but was surprisingly brought home on Friday by one Tunji as he was unable to walk on his own.
“Tunji did not explain to me if anything had happened to my husband; he only advised him to get enough rest. I called his sister the following morning when I noticed that his condition was getting out of hand. That’s how we took him from one hospital to the other before he finally gave up the ghost on Saturday after receiving treatment for a week.
“I was informed that my husband was attacked by the DSS officials at the birthday party of his Boss. He was promoted to the rank of Inspector about three weeks ago. My husband was murdered because of promotion.
“I want the government and the Commissioner of Police to come to my rescue. My husband must not die in vain. I’m nursing a 1-month-old baby, they should come to my aid to get justice for my husband’s death.”
On her part, the immediate younger sister of the deceased, Adijat Rafiu said she discovered a little mark at the back of his head and a clot of blood inside his ear after receiving a distress call from the deceased’s wife.
“All we demand now is justice for our dead brother. He is the breadwinner and glory of our family and we don’t want him to die in vain.
“David Olowoporoku is the alleged killer of our brother. We want Osun state government and the Nigeria Police Force to come to our aid and bring David Olowoporoku to book.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Yemisi Opalola noted that the deceased,
Corporal Fawale Rauf was in the Nigerian Police Force before he died on the 23rd of January, 2021.
The PPRO confirmed that Rauf was beaten to a coma by one David Olowoporoku and two unknown others who are personnel of DSS, adding that the DSS operatives have not been released to the police force.
She, however, noted that the Commissioner of Police has put efforts in place to ensure that the culprits are brought to book.
According to her, “We heard that he was beaten by three personnel of Directorate of Security Service, DSS. He was beaten by one David Olowoporoku and two unknown others. The corporal was beaten to a coma.
“When the DPO was informed, he was rushed to the hospital where he was receiving treatment. He had a serious head injury. The doctors tried their best but, unfortunately, we lost him. His corpse had been released to his family for burial, he is a Muslim and the Islamic rites had to be performed.
“After the report of the beating, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olawale Olokode interfaced the director of DSS and he promised to produce the three culprits.
“The DSS director said, on their part, they have begun their disciplinary proceedings but the CP insisted that they should be brought to the police since the case involved the police for discrete investigation and further prosecution. This, the CP, also told the prosecutor of the case.
“The case is still on, we assure the press that the right action will take place because so criminal will go unpunished. It has to be done the way it ought to be done to serve as a warning for other people in future. Whether you are a member of the force or in power, such shouldn’t be done to anyone. These culprits will be brought to book.”
SP Opalola enjoined members of the public not to panic while assuring that such occurrence will not repeat itself.
She said, “I want to tell the members of the public that they should not panic about the incident which involved security personnel, as some may start asking if they are safe in the community. They should not be worried, such will not repeat itself again.
“On behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Police Command and the entire Police of the state Command, we want to commiserate with the family of the deceased on the demise of their son and we pray that God will give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
